Restoration experts at Hungary’s Pannonhalma Archabbey are in a race against time to save thousands of historic books from a destructive infestation of drugstore beetles. The monastery, a Benedictine site that dates back over a millennium, is facing an unprecedented threat to its vast collection of nearly 100,000 handbound volumes. The beetles, also known as cigarette beetles, have been found in a UNESCO World Heritage Site section that houses 400,000 books, making up a quarter of the archabbey’s entire collection. The infestation is described as one of the worst the site has ever encountered, with restoration workers beginning a comprehensive disinfection process to eliminate the pests and save the ancient texts from irreversible damage.
The Pannonhalma Archabbey, founded four years before the Kingdom of Hungary’s establishment in 996, is home to one of the most significant and oldest book collections in the country. It includes a complete Bible from the 13th century, a rare and invaluable piece of cultural heritage. Ilona Ásványi, director of the archabbey’s library, described the infestation as a grave threat to the collection, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of each book. ‘When I see a book chewed up by a beetle or infected in any other way, I feel that no matter how many copies are published and how replaceable the book is, a piece of culture has been lost,’ she said. The archabbey’s restoration team is now working tirelessly to ensure that the 1,000-year-old collection is preserved for future generations.
Experts have confirmed that the beetles, which thrive in warm, dry environments, are particularly destructive to book bindings and paper. They feed on the adhesive used in bookbinding, causing pages to become brittle and eventually disintegrate. This has made the infestation particularly concerning for the archabbey’s collection, which includes many 13th-century volumes that are already delicate and prone to decay. The beetles were first detected in a section of the library that houses 400,000 volumes, a significant portion of the entire collection. Restoration workers have since identified the infestation across multiple areas, necessitating a large-scale treatment regimen to prevent further spread.
Despite the severity of the infestation, the archabbey’s efforts are being supported by experts in conservation and pest control. Zsófia Edit Hajdu, the chief restorer on the project, emphasized the urgency of the situation. ‘This is an advanced insect infestation, which has been detected in several parts of the library, so the entire collection is classified as infected and must be treated all at the same time,’ she said. The archabbey has now begun a rigorous disinfection process, which includes both chemical treatments and environmental controls to eliminate the beetles and prevent future infestations.
The threat posed by the beetles has also led to calls for increased funding and resources to support the restoration efforts. With the collection containing some of the most historically significant texts in Hungary, there is a growing concern about the long-term preservation of these artifacts. The archabbey is currently exploring ways to improve its storage conditions, including enhanced climate control systems and regular pest monitoring protocols. These measures are intended to protect the remaining books from further damage and ensure the sustainability of the collection for future generations.
In addition to the immediate conservation efforts, the infestation has sparked a broader conversation about the vulnerability of historical archives to environmental and biological threats. The Pannonhalma Archabbey’s experience is seen as a cautionary tale for other institutions housing rare and ancient texts. The restoration team is now working to document the process and share their findings with other libraries and cultural organizations around the world. This collaborative approach aims to strengthen the global response to similar threats and improve the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.